Saturday, January 30, 2010

ALLENDALE—The Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams were in action on Friday at the Grand Valley State Open and came up with a number of strong performances.

In the women’s meet, sophomore Jordan Gabrielse (Unity Christian HS) was ninth in the 400 meters (1:01.16) in her first collegiate competition. Sophomore Kaitlin Diemer (South Christian HS) had a solid effort in the 800 meters, placing third with a time of 2:19.36. Other top 10 finishes for the Calvin women included junior Gretchen Braymer (Erie, PA) placing third in the 3,000 meters (10:37.99) and sophomore Andrea Beukema (Grand Rapids Christian HS) taking ninth (11:03.89).

Saturday, January 16, 2010

ALLENDALE—The Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams opened their indoor campaigns on Friday night at the Mike Lints Alumni Invitational hosted by Grand Valley State University.

On the men’s side, Calvin’s distance contingent posted several sterling efforts led by sophomre Nick Kramer who won the 5,000 meter run with an NCAA III (indoor) provisional qualifying time of 14:51.21. Kramer was one of five Calvin runners in the top seven with sophomore Matt Vander Roest second (15:11.6), senior Aaron Goodman fourth (15:21.6), senior Tim Langenberg sixth (15:24.0) and sophomore Dan Kerr seventh (15:24.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

GRAND RAPIDS—Calvin College has named Bret Otte as its head men’s and women’s track and field coach. Otte has spent the last 11 years serving as head men’s and women’s cross country coach and head men’s and women’s track and field coach at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. Otte replaces Dr. Jong-il Kim who has decided to step down as Calvin’s head men’s and women’s track and field coach to devote more time to his teaching as an associate professor in Calvin’s Health, Physical Education, Recreation Dance and Sport department and coaching of specific events as a coach with Calvin’s track and field program. Kim will remain as an assistant coach with both Calvin teams. Kim will also continue to serve as an assistant coach with the Calvin women’s soccer team and as an associate professor in Calvin’s HPERD’s department.

Thursday, July 09, 2009

For the ninth straight year, the Calvin women’s track and field team has received the all-academic team award from the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The Calvin men’s track and field team has also received the award.

Teams were eligible for the for honor if they had a minimum of 14 members who participated in the 2008 outdoor season and recorded a minimum 3.00 (4.00 scale) cumulative grade point average as a group. The Calvin women’s track and field team posted a 3.594 cumulative grade point average, ranking fifth among 100 teams that were so honored. The Calvin men’s track and field team posted a 3.238.

Thursday, July 02, 2009

A record 10 Calvin College athletics teams have received the MIAA Team GPA Award for the recently completed 2008-09 academic year. The award, presented by the Faculty Athletic Representatives of the MIAA member colleges recognizes conference athletic teams who achieved a 3.3 or better grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) for the entire 2008-09 academic year.

Meanwhile 15 Calvin scholar-athletes have been named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll for the fourth straight year.

Friday, June 19, 2009

For the third consecutive year, recent Calvin College graduate Sarah Wittingen has been named an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American. Meanwhile, Calvin junior Jessica Koster has received ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America accolades for the first time. Both Calvin student-athletes were named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America first team in the women’s track and field/cross country college division.

Thursday, June 04, 2009

Four Calvin athletes have received ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV honors in the track and field/cross country college division.

On the men’s side, Erik Van Kampen has been so honored while on the women’s side, the Knights have three honorees in seniors Julie Bratt and Sarah Wittingen and junior Jessica Koster. All four individuals now advance to the national ballot and are eligible for Academic All-America consideration.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Calvin College has finished in fifth place in the inaugural Deb Vercauteren Program of the Year Award standings as announced by the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association.

The NCAA Division III Deb Vercauteren Program of the Year Award is being awarded for the first time to the most outstanding NCAA Division III women’s cross country/track & field program. The award honors the institution that has achieved the most success in each academic year (spanning the cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field seasons) based on the institution’s finish at the NCAA Division III Championships.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

MARIETTA, OH—A national runner-up berth by Calvin sophomore Rachel Boerner in the 400 meter hurdles highlighted a quartet of All-America performances for the Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams on Saturday at the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Marietta College.

A native of Bergenfield, New Jersey, Boerner took second in the 400 meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 1:00.54, a half-second behind national champion Sumer Rohrs of Frostburg State who finished as the national runner-up a year ago to Calvin’s Sarah Wittingen. A graduate of Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, Boerner is the fifth individual in Calvin women’s track and field history to earn All-America accolades in the event.